SEKEM in years...

1970s

SEKEM was established by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish and his wife Gudrun, on an area of 70 hectares of desert land through applying Biodynamic principles.

1980s

1981

SEKEM sent the first shipment of medicinal herbs and food ingredients to the USA.

1983

SEKEM launched its first product line of herbal remedies on the local pharmaceutical market under the brand name SEKEM Herbs and foodstuff was introduced to the local market under the brand name ISIS.

The Association for Cultural Development in Egypt was founded as a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) in Germany.

​

1990s

1990

ATOS Pharma set up regional sales and distribution offices in Alexandria, Assiut and Mansoura.

LIBRA started, in cooperation with EOSTA and Organic Farm Foods, the export of organic fresh fruits and vegetables to Europe.

SEKEM encouraged the foundation of the Centre of Organic Agriculture in Egypt (COAE) as an independent certification body, working in accordance with Demeter guidelines and later the European Regulation for Organic Agriculture.

1993

Libra for Organic Cultivation was established to coordinate the organic cultivation of cotton and all other crops organically grown in Egypt.

Libra extended its capacity by building new greenhouses, stables for cows and chicken farms.

2002

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), one of the World Bank affiliates, and DEG participated in new investments of the SEKEM Group of Companies.

SEKEM Academy for Applied Arts and Science built pharmaceutical and soil fertility laboratories.

2003

SEKEM received the Alternative Nobel Prize or Right Livelihood Award. The jury sees in SEKEM "a business model for the 21st century in which commercial success is `economics of love’."

Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish was selected as an "Outstanding Social Entrepreneur" by the Schwab Foundation.

Citrus fruit and potatoes were among the first products sold as fair-trade certified by FLO Germany.

SEKEM Academy for Applied Arts and Science started training courses for eurythmy at the workplace.

​

2006

El Mizan for plant nursery grafting and raising young fruit and vegetable plants, was established.

2007

EcoTec Holding was established as a sister organization of the SEKEM Holding, dedicated to renewable energy and other environmental services.

Heliopolis Academy opened the Water Research Department working on advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies, advanced water disinfection techniques, doing research on state-of-the-art irrigation techniques as well as analyzing water for all applications.

The SEKEM Environmental Science Center was founded to cooperate with the SEKEM School and all schools in the region in the fields of practical environmental science training.

2008

Establishment of SEKEM for Land Reclamation (SLR). It is planned to reclaim and plant in total 6.000 feddan (2520 hectares) in North Sinai, the Bahareya Oasis, and in Minia Governorate.

First Report on Sustainable Development is published for the year 2007.

Development of the Sustainability Flower as reporting, assessment and management tool together with IAP.

2009

Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development receives its acknowledgment by the Presidential Decree No. 298.

First “Heliopolis Academy Innovation Award”.

​

​

1984

The Egyptian Socierty for Cultural Development (SCD, later renamed to the SEKEM Development Foundation, SDF) started its activities with employee training in the field of arts and science.

1986

ATOS Pharma was established as an international joint venture company between SEKEM, Deutsche Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and Dr. Schaette KG, to develop the Egyptian natural pharmaceutical market.

1987

The SEKEM Kindergarten and the Mahad Adult Training Institute were established.

1988

LIBRA was founded as a company specialized in packing and exporting fresh fruit and vegetables to Europe.

1989

The SEKEM School started with primary and secondary stages.

​

1996

Hator (now part of ISIS), a company for Fresh Organic Produce was established.

Nature's Best Shops were opened in Cairo to sell organically cultivated healthy food products and organic textiles.

Egyptian Society for Cultural Development opened the SEKEM Medical Centre.

The International Association of Partnership for Ecology and Trade (IAP) was established between SEKEM and many of its international business partners.

1997

SEKEM, ATOS Pharma, Conytex and Hator were ISO 9001 certified for the first time.

ISIS starts to manufacture organic foodstuff.

The SEKEM Vocational Training Center (VTC) and Arts School were established by the Egyptian Society for Cultural Development (now SDF). A Literacy Program for disadvantaged children was introduced.

1998

Libra opened its new mill and cleaning line for cereals, rice and dry legumes.

1999

The Centre of Organic Agriculture in Egypt (COAE) attained accreditation according to the international quality management procedures for product certifying bodies (EN45011).

​

2004

SEKEM and Acumend Fund are financing a project to increase the growth of the organic cultivation of the land and the number of Egyptian farmers.

The Egyptian Society for Cultural Development (now SDF) together with the University Witten/Herdecke formed a consortium with Cairo University, Helwan University, Zagazig University, Antwerp University, Marburg University, King's College London and the University London School of Pharmacy to carry out the EU project DOPSE-TEMPUS to develop a phytopharmacy curriculum.

2005

LOTUS was founded as a company processing organic herbs and spices from Biodynamically cultivated plants.

Establishment of SEKEM Europe to support the overall goal of SEKEM Holding to process and market healthy and ethical products made from Biodynamic ingredients.

SEKEM Museum for natural history and human prehistory opens for visitors.

Egyptian Biodynamic Association started projects on new feed technology, improving seeds of medicinal and aromatic plants and use of solar dryers as alternative sustainable drying system for small growers.

Start of a three-years “13 villages” project for comprehensive poverty alleviation intervention in rural Sharkeya, Egypt in cooperation with the Verein zur Förderung kultureller Entwicklung in Ägypten e.V. (association for the support of the cultural development of Egypt).